From: Sam Norton (elizaphanian@kohath.wanadoo.co.uk)
Date: Thu Dec 16 2004 - 21:56:23 GMT
Hi Marsha,
I wouldn't necessarily disagree with you. As I understand it, in Eastern martial arts there is the
concept of 'beginner's mind'. What this means is that someone who is beginning to study the art will
react in an uneducated way to a particular experience. When the instructor, for example, throws a
surprise punch, the student will react instinctively (normally by trying to snap their head out of
the way). The student does not try and interpret what is happening according to any understanding of
how to fight, he simply reacts to the experience. This is why, symbolically, a new student wears a
white belt - their mind is a clean slate. Now, as the student develops and begins to train his
reactions alter. Through regular and disciplined training the student learns that, for example, a
right handed punch thrown by an opponent may be met by a left handed block. In training the student
will repeat set actions hundreds of times: a thrown punch, a particular block. Throughout the
training there is continual mental effort which is aimed at overcoming the instinctive reaction and
replacing it with the educated response. Thus, with effort, the student can gain proficiency in the
art and, in the end, re-educate his instinctive reactions. Contrary to popular understanding the
highest grade in a martial art is not the black belt but a return to the white belt. What this
represents is a return to 'beginner's mind' on the part of the artist: the reactions are once more
completely instinctive, and not channelled or interpreted by the conscious mind. The artist will
simply respond directly to the experience, instinctively, although, of course, his reactions will be
very different to those of the beginner. (This state of 'beginner's mind' is closely related to the
Zen Buddhist state of 'no mind', so far as I understand it.)
Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: "MarshaV" <marshalz@i-2000.com>
To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 7:40 PM
Subject: Re: MD Socratic Mysticism and Pirsig
> Dear Sam and Chin,
>
> I don't agree with the master/novice analogy. It's more being in total
> awareness. That can happen to a novice with very little training, if he's
> in total concentration, or mindfulness. You don't necessarily need many
> years, or a teacher. But they might help a lot if one tends to overthink
> everything. Do you think their are levels of mystical experience?
>
> MarshaV
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